“When he first started here he was obviously a little bit worried because he had a medical problem.

“Because he is a guitarist, he was also worried about his hands.

“I didn’t know his fitness level and I found out that he had just recovered from his brain damage.

“I was worried so I took it easy with him. I was getting him to do sit-ups, which he couldn’t do at first because his balance wasn’t great. He wanted to take it easy at the beginning so we started with the fitness side of boxing.

“We used punchbags and warm-up work and pads.

“But he is much healthier than lots of people and, after a while, Ally showed an interest in sparring.

“We do head and body sparring but not full contact. He loves it more than other sports.”

Ally training with Sedat Sag at North London Boxing Club

Sedat also trains Shelly and her sister Karen Poole — both of whom used to perform as the 80s duo Alisha’s Attic — and their 71-year-old dad, Brian.

Denise Van Outen has also trained with him and he spent an hour preparing TV presenter Gail Porter for a movie role.

“Ally used to go to the gigs and tour with Texas and would come home and rest after the tour,” Sedat explained.

“Now, as soon as he comes to London, he comes to the gym to train.

“Boxing has improved his balance and his confidence after his illness.

“I really like Ally. He is a great guy. He is humble, as well.

“I have introduced him to lots of people in the gym and he never mentions that he is the guitarist with Texas.

“But we don’t hit each other in the head really hard.

“He tries to hit me when I jump into the ring with him. He tries to punch me but we really enjoy it. It is a lot of fun.

“He was wearing a Muhammad Ali T-shirt one day, so I decided to give him the nickname Mchammad Ally. It’s a good nickname for him.”

Ally with his bandmates in Texas

As well as being known as the guitarist in Texas, Ally plays in the alternative country-rock trio Red Sky July, alongside Shelly and former Alice Band member Charity Hair.

He’ll collect the Inspiration award on behalf of the band when they perform at this year’s Tartan Clef awards, which benefit the Nordoff Robbins music therapy charity. The event will be held at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on November 17.

And having used music as part of his own rehabilitation, Ally admitted: “When I was recovering, it was the music that really helped me to get better.

“After I had been in hospital for six months a friend of mine brought a guitar up with him.

“I didn’t even know what a guitar was at the time so there was no point in having it here.

“But once I started getting a bit better, they brought the guitar back and it clicked that I was supposed to be able to play it.

“I had totally forgotten about it. It jogged things and encouraged me to try to get back to normal.

“I was booked in to make a Red Sky July album and I just had to get better for that because I didn’t want to let anyone down.

“Having something to focus on really helped me.

“Playing the guitar was a great motivator because it involves a high level of focus and brain activity.

“You have to think logically about the scales and notes that you’re playing, physically move your hands, and spiritually and soulfully play the music.”

And he said he doesn’t mind that many people will be surprised to find him swinging punches with Sedat when not slinging his guitar.

Ally added: “Boxing makes me so much fitter. I never used to like watching boxing but now I like to watch it.

“People are surprised by the news that I am boxing, including my mum. It is a proper sport.

“A lot of people think that it is really brutal but it’s not, especially the way Sedat trains me.

“But he would never hit me. If he wanted to he could punch the s*** out of me. But he’s not like that.

“Shelly really wants me to stay fit, too. I only do one round of sparring.

“Most of the time it is exercises and punching pads. I hate doing the burpees. That is the worst thing about it.

“Apart from those, I look forward to it. I used to do other types of training and I would dread it, whereas I look forward to stepping into the ring.”